high comedy
noun
: comedy employing subtle characterizations and witty dialogue compare low comedy
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Williams was careful to make that moment of high comedy fit the tone. 
Valli Herman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2022 The ham-handed manner in which the Senate Republicans presented their case furnished some high comedy. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 23 Mar. 2022 Creator Sam Levinson toys with our emotions from scene to scene, giving us high comedy (verging on camp) as well as pathos. Raven Smith, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2022 Bless this show for being able to walk that line of thought-provoking social commentary and high comedy! Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 14 July 2021 The affair begins in high comedy and ends in sadness after the two discover that infidelity is terrifically hard to schedule. New York Times, 23 Mar. 2021 In keeping with the high comedy of this whole business Trump had been assigned a pseudonym for the purpose: Trump is David Dennison and Daniels is Peggy Peterson. Elizabeth Drew, The New Republic, 8 Mar. 2018 And of course there’s the high comedy of a film critic — someone paid to watch screens — griping about not having enough time in the real world. Ty Burr, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Mar. 2018 The zone where normalcy collides with extremity — where high comedy and psychological terror keep company — is her sweet spot. A.o. Scott & Wesley Morris, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2017 See More
Valli Herman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2022 The ham-handed manner in which the Senate Republicans presented their case furnished some high comedy. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 23 Mar. 2022 Creator Sam Levinson toys with our emotions from scene to scene, giving us high comedy (verging on camp) as well as pathos. Raven Smith, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2022 Bless this show for being able to walk that line of thought-provoking social commentary and high comedy! Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 14 July 2021 The affair begins in high comedy and ends in sadness after the two discover that infidelity is terrifically hard to schedule. New York Times, 23 Mar. 2021 In keeping with the high comedy of this whole business Trump had been assigned a pseudonym for the purpose: Trump is David Dennison and Daniels is Peggy Peterson. Elizabeth Drew, The New Republic, 8 Mar. 2018 And of course there’s the high comedy of a film critic — someone paid to watch screens — griping about not having enough time in the real world. Ty Burr, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Mar. 2018 The zone where normalcy collides with extremity — where high comedy and psychological terror keep company — is her sweet spot. A.o. Scott & Wesley Morris, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2017 See More Word History
First Known Use
1707, in the meaning defined above
high comedy
noun
as in low comedy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- low comedy
- comedy
- farce
- satire
- burlesque
- slapstick
- humor
- improv
- parody
- persiflage
- banter
- shenanigan(s)
- monkeyshine(s)
- drollery
- stand-up
- wit
- horseplay
- knockabout
- foolery
- fun